The Animal Kingdom

The Animal Kingdom

mammal: animal that gives birth to live babies, not eggs, and feeds them on its own milk (e.g. cat, cow, kangaroo); a kangaroo is a special kind of mammal called a marsupial [its young grow in a pouch in front of the mother]

rodent: e.g. mouse, rat

reptile: e.g. snake, lizard

Aves: Birds

The dodo was a large flightless bird which was found on one island in the Indian Ocean but became extinct in the 17th century. [died out]

carnivore: animal that eats a diet that is mainly or exclusively meat (e.g. lion, tiger, hyena)

herbivore: animal that eats a diet that is mainly or exclusively grass/vegetation (e.g. deer, cow

predator: animal that hunts/eats other animals (e.g. eagle, lion, shark)

scavenger: animal that feeds on dead animals which it has not killed itself

warm/cold-blooded:

warm-blooded animals (e.g. mammals) have temperatures that stay the same;

cold-blooded animals (e.g. reptiles) have to control their temperature by taking in heat from outside or by being very active

Multiple Choice

There are a lot of different types of squirrels, rats, mice and things like that living in the woods.

• rodent

• reptiles

• Mammal

• Predators

• Carnivores

Multiple Choice

A whale isn’t a fish, as it doesn’t lay eggs. It’s actually an animal that gives birth directly

• rodent

• reptiles

• Mammal

• Predators

• Carnivores

Multiple Choice

There are some interesting turtles and crocodiles and that sort of thing near the river.

• rodent

• reptiles

• Mammal

• Predators

• Carnivores

Multiple Choice

Everyone thinks these animals eat meat, but in fact they only feed on certain kinds of leave

• herbivore

• reptiles

• Mammal

• Predators

• Carnivores

Multiple Choice

Everyone thinks these animals eat meat, but in fact they only feed on certain kinds of leave

• herbivore

• reptiles

• Mammal

• Predators

• Carnivores

Multiple Choice

Many different species have died out because their habitat has been destroyed.

• Have become extinct

• reptiles

• Mammal

• Predators

• Carnivores

Multiple Choice

The mother bird protects her eggs from animals that attack them.

• Have become extinct

• reptiles

• Mammal

• Predators

• Carnivores

Our old cat is a very docile creature. [behaves very gently]

These birds are so tame, they will sit on your hand. [not afraid of humans, usually because of training or long involvement with humans]

Dogs and horses became domesticated thousands of years ago. [live with or are used by humans]

There are wild cats in the mountains. [opposite of domesticated]

A savage wolf killed three of the farmer’s sheep. [extremely violent or wild]

A fierce dog guarded the gates. [behaves aggressively]

Multiple Choice

Sheep are generally rather ... animals, but the other day a ram attacked our dog

• docile

• domesticated

• wild

• Fierce

• Tame

Multiple Choice

Horses were probably first ... many thousands of years ago

• docile

• domesticated

• wild

• Fierce

• Tame

Multiple Choice

I don’t think ... birds should ever be hunted. They should be left in peace in their natural surroundings.

• docile

• domesticated

• wild

• Fierce

• Tame

Multiple Choice

Lions can look very ... with their huge teeth and large heads

• docile

• domesticated

• wild

• Fierce

• Tame

Multiple Choice

Some dolphins are very ... and will swim along with human beings.

• docile

• domesticated

• wild

• Fierce

• Tame

As more buildings and roads are constructed, the natural habitat for many species is shrinking. [preferred natural place for living and breeding]

The arctic tern is a bird which migrates from the Arctic to the Antarctic, a round trip of over 70,000 km. Migration is when animals travel long distances to get to a different habitat.

You can see lots of animals in the big game reserves / game parks in Africa. [areas of land where animals are protected from hunting, etc.; game can be used to mean animals or birds that are hunted]

There is a bird sanctuary near here. [protected natural area where birds can live and breed]

We went to the local animal (rescue) shelter to see if we could get a dog there. [place where stray cats, dogs, etc., i.e. pets that have lost their home, are given food and a place to live]